11/05/2017
How to Keep Your Garage Door in Great Shape
When it comes to home maintenance, it's not uncommon for the garage door to get the short end of the stick. You may not even remember the last time you did any maintenance work on your garage door, and you may not be sure what it is that needs to be done. It's true that your garage door doesn't need that much help from you to keep working, but there are a few things that you should be doing at least once a year to keep the door operating well. Take a look at a few maintenance tasks that can keep your garage door in great shape and working well for years.
Lubricate
Tired of hearing the garage door squeak and screech when it goes up and down? It may just need some lubrication. Start by using some solvent, like WD-40, on all of the hinges, latches, and roller tracks. Then you can clean them off and apply a three in one lubricant to those parts. If you have rollers that are stuck or difficult to turn, kerosene can help get them moving again. Apply the kerosene using a brush small enough to let you get into the cracks. Then you can clean the rollers off with some steel wool and apply lubricant.
Don't neglect the garage door opener. Apply the same lubricant that you use on the hinges, latches, and roller tracks to the chain or drive screw.
Tighten Up
How many times a week does your garage door go up and down? Frequent movement and vibration will eventually cause your hardware to loosen. Take a close look at the door's roller brackets and bolts, and tighten any that appear to be loose with a socket wrench.
Inspect
The garage door springs keep your garage door in balance. You can test the balance by pulling the red release cord and manually moving the garage door to the halfway point. It should stay put, but if it lowers or raises on its own, then it's likely that the springs need attention.
The cables that lift your door also need inspection. Check to see that they're in good condition and don't have any broken strands.
When it comes to springs and cables, limit yourself to inspection only. These parts are under great pressure, and if you mishandle them, it could result in serious injury. Don't try to fix or replace these parts by yourself - if you see signs that the springs are unbalanced or the cables are fraying, call in a professional to fix them.
Replace
A garage door should last a long time, but weather-stripping has a shorter lifespan. Check to see if the rubber weather-stripping has become cracked or brittle - if it has, it's time to replace. You can buy new weather-stripping by the foot at your local hardware store, and all that you have to do is cut it to size and insert it.
Check the weather-stripping on the sides of the door as well, and adjust it if it's rubbing along the edges.
Keeping your garage door in good shape isn't difficult, but it's an important part of maintaining your garage.
